Eurolink News

Anti-Lisbon campaigners condemn MEP attack (18/4/08)

April 18, 2008 at 6:48 pm Leave a comment

An umbrella group of organisations campaigning against the Lisbon Treaty has spoken out against an alleged assault on MEP Proinsias De Rossa last Monday. A spokesperson for the Campaign Against the EU Constitution (CAEUC) said, ‘However angry people may feel about the way the Lisbon Treaty is being presented, violence has no place in the campaign.’
The Labour MEP was described as ‘upset, shaken and bruised’ after the incident involving a group of anti-Lisbon protestors in Dublin’s city centre. It’s understood Mr De Rossa was confronted by the group shortly before 11pm near Liberty Hall, where he had been addressing a public meeting on the treaty. Garda sources say when the MEP objected to being filmed by members of the group, he was pursued, knocked down and pinned to the ground.
Speaking days after the incident, Mr De Rossa thanked everyone on all sides of the political spectrum who had wished him a speedy recovery. He said, ‘The tactics employed by this particular group are not representative of Irish political culture. They were representing no-one but themselves. The overwhelming public reaction is evidence that their efforts to shut down public debate are not acceptable.’
Anti-treaty activist and Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott called for a full investigation by gardai, and said she was relieved Mr De Rossa was alright. She added, ‘I expect strong, even passionate argument, but there is no place for physical intimidation or bullying in any debate.’ President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering also issued a statement condemning ‘this thuggish attack’. He used the occasion to plug a political message, saying, ‘Attacks like this are an attack on the fundamental values of the EU as enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty – democracy, tolerance and freedom of speech.’

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